Roadside Attractions
A year of pulling over to take in the view with the camera in my pocket
Introduction
The best camera is the one you have in hand. Ever since getting my first smartphone in August of last year I’ve been tempted, when driving around Northumberland County, Ontario where I live, to pull off the road to take pictures of the local landscape. I call these quick sketch images “roadside attractions.”
The theme of the collection is the spontaneous desire to pull over and record the local landscape when I see something that catches my eye. Only photos taken with my Samsung Galaxy Flip 5 and shot in horizontal panoramic format are included.
Please note, this post replaces an earlier post which pointed to a separate project page. Having created a dedicated project page as an experiment, I now believe it is better to put everything into a post where people seem more likely to interact with it. As with everything on substack, in photography and in life in general, there is a learning curve.
August 2023
I started this project off slowly. In fact, I had no idea I was starting a project at all. The shot below of a freshly mowed hay field differs from most of the other images in this set in that I was not actually driving, but rather walking along the road near my home when I stopped to capture it with my new camera, the one I had in my pocket. Still, this image may quite rightly be considered the genesis of the project in that with it, I became aware of the luxury of always having a camera in hand, even if it wasn’t quite up to the standards I had become used to with my Fuji XT3.
September 2023
The concept continued at a slow pace, bubbling below the surface through September, as I learned more about the camera and its capabilities. It took me a while to get into the habit of using the wide panorama which is a crop of the full 4:3 sensor but represents the full screen area of the Flip 5. This 9:22 ratio has such a cinematic look to it that it lends itself perfectly to this type of subject matter.
Below, another image from my daily walks. I pass by this driveway often, noticing the greens of summer faded away a bit more each day.
Autumn 2023
The image of harvest time above is the only photo in this set made outside of Northumberland County. Taken on route to Peterborough along the back roads north of Rice Lake.
October 2023
By October, the days were getting shorter and there was a noticeable chill in the air, especially in the shadows. The sun was still warm, but the change of seasons was now accelerating noticeably.
The Warkworth Mill Pond attracts much attention during the autumn season, especially the view from the Old Hastings Road bridge which overlooks the reflecting pond. Of course, it is very hard to drive past without stopping and I often stop to take in the view.
Each year, the Lower Trent Conservation Authority drains the pond by the farm supply store to lessen the risk of flooding the town in the Spring. This move is often controversial, as locals would prefer they held off this necessary task until the end of the autumn colours, but as it was this year, they are often disappointed.
But the town has been badly flooded on a couple of occasions and the Lower Trent Conservation authority is responsible for maintaining water levels in all of the tributaries leading into the nearby Trent River. They are the sole authority governing water levels here so even local council cannot supercede their whims. I tried to make the best of the situation this year, by catching the emptied pond while it was still wet.
All my travels eventually lead back to this spot at the end of my long driveway through the woods. Every trip by car starts and ends at this intersection. Along the road, the front of our property stretches to the corner in the above shot and to the end of the tree line on the right in the photo below.
November 2023
The corn fields turn a golden brown. Mostly cattle corn by now, still drying in the field waiting patiently to be harvested. This large field sits just north of Cobourg above a rise on the other side of the major east-west highway corridor, the 401, also known as the Trans Canada Highway.
A little further north, up County Rd 45, lies the Northumberland County Forest. A forward thinking reforestation plan dating from 1921, the highway cuts through the forest and offers easy access to plenty of recreational activities year round and a beautiful journey for my regular trips to Cobourg from Warkworth, especially as on this day, following a dusting of snow the night before.
The road winds through the pines following the contours of the land. Such a nice drive and one that I get to enjoy regularly. It is part of what I like about living here.
December 2023
By now, without making any conscious decision about it, my ‘roadside attractions’ project was really starting to take shape. I had begun looking in earnest for opportunities to pull over and take photos. The more I looked, the more I saw. It was slowly becoming a beautiful obsession.
Locals tell me that from this high point of land west of Warkworth, a bicyclist can coast several kilometers eastward towards town before they have to puff their way up yet another hill on the last leg into the village. The Northumberland Hills are popular with cyclists and is the scene of several cycling events each year.
Winter Begins
Above, the Winter Equinox as seen mid-day from the top of the big hill on Godolphin Rd. The temperature had already dropped well below freezing with a bitter wind negating any effect made by the sun. I did not linger here for long. The light dusting of snow did not stay. It wasn’t going to be a typical white Christmas.
Above, our 2003 Toyota Rav 4 pulled off a side road for another mini shoot. I don’t restrict myself to good or bad weather. The two pictures below where taken on a grey rainy day while driving the backroads from a grocery trip to nearby Campbellford.
January 2024
The road from Roseneath to Warkworth offers a different set of views and a break from routine. Breaks in the clouds, shone down on the hills, highlighting them and their golden fields.
Close to home now, just a few minutes from home. Have you noticed how I seldom include people or houses in my photographs. I seem to revel in the remote look of the land alone.
During the second week of January below, the snow finally arrives. It will stay for a while now, having arrived much later than usual, but it will turn out to be one of the most snow free winter seasons on record with no large accumulations at all.
Most of the big snow storms pass south of the Great Lakes through New York State or pass by to the north of us through cottage country and the Canadian Shield.
Another shot of the Warkworth Mill Pond. I see this ever time I pass through Warkworth, so it is always on my radar. The snow was falling when I took the photo above. Our first of any significance this winter.
A storm system approaches, as I look out over Lake Ontario from Port Hope. I can see sunshine off in the far distance. The lake is to wide here to see across, but it is likely sunny in upstate New York. The snow again, amounts to nothing.
Yet another snowy day today without much consequence. These days seem to make for the best photos this time of year. So moody. The sun struggles to break through, but loses the battle to the snow laden clouds.
Above, the view from Monks Cove in Cobourg. I admit I went a bit out of my way to see this view, so not exactly a simple matter of just pulling over. The snow came down heavy on my way to my weekly shopping trip to Cobourg, and I just had to visit the shoreline to see what it looked like. I was not disappointed, but you will notice there is no ice buildup like there normally is. No ice volcanoes nor sculptures. The weather continues to be, unusual, to say the least.
On my way home I stopped south of the hamlet of Burnley where the road turns to pass south through the Northumberland Forest. The roads are already melting of snow and will be dry by the next day.
Another week, another lovely snowy day. Great big fat flakes. The type of snow one simply has to stick one’s tongue out to catch. A quick reminder of magical childhood memories.
A blanket of fog covered everything on this particular day. Fog is always an opportunity for photographers. It changes everything.
Of coourse, I had to stop several times on my way home from shopping.
March 2024
Where is the snow? The lack of snow cover this year has started to become a bit worrying. Is drought in our future I wonder? As it turned out, Spring and Summer rains were enough to recover from the lack of snowfall.
The snow that does fall makes everything look atmospheric. A visual spice as it were.
This photo is deceiving. It looks like a wonderful day, however, it was bitterly cold with high winds when I stepped out of the car to capture the image above. I took shelter over the embankment that drops down to the lake here. Climbing back to the path that runs along the top of the shoreline, I was blasted by driving snow and low visibility, making it difficult to return to the car only 30 seconds later. Although I was less than 50 feet from the car, I was plastered head to toe and soaked to the skin by the time I got back in my vehicle.
I stopped once more on my way home this day, on a high piece of land south of Warkworth with commanding views of the surrounding farmland. There a few spots around that serve as natural vistas. This is one of them. I returned to re-photograph this spot in July.
April 2024
A rain snow mix accompanied a drive home from Peterborough on this day. The weather started to turn as we entered back into Northumberland County at the Village of Hastings. By the time we got to the road to Campbellford, the weather was turning nasty. It had been predicted, and it appeared we were going to get home just before the worst of it.
The big hill on Godolphin Road always seems so welcoming to me. Once we reach the bottom of the hill, we will be on the same elevation as our house about a mile away. Looks like the snow hasn’t quite got here yet. I later took a shot from the bottom of this hill looking to my right in the blue green wonder of summer. See below in July.
A few days later and the snow that fell had already melted away. Our weather this year seems more like England than Canada. They on the other hand have been dumped on in ways they aren’t used to. Perhaps some sorcerer has switched ours weather with theirs, but more likely, these oddities can be easily explained by global warming.
Canada Geese gather in a farmer’s field. The geese now seem to stay year round as climate change gives us milder than ever winters.
May 2024
At the corner of Cty Rd 29 and Cty Rd 30 sits J’s Place Chip Truck, the best chippy I know of. And their sausage on a bun is heaven. Above, is the view across the road while waiting for my order to be ready.
Just down the Wilson Settlement road from us, across from the old school house lies this expansive hay field. I love watching the shadows of clouds as the pass over this undulating landscape. I will return to this spot to wave at the farmer cutting hay.
June 2024
From the driveway at the bottom of Godolphin Hill, one can look up and see nothing but field and sky. A few trees were alowed to make an appearance in this shot but I have photographed this with my XT-3 and removed them completely by crouching down low. This field always attracts my attention. In the spring, it’s often covered by billions of yellow dandelions followed by a sea of white seedheads. This year, it is home to some exotic field crop that I haven’t been able to identify, but the green vegetation against blue sky is always spectacular on sunny days like this.
East of Warkworth between County Rd 29 and the Hamlet of Norham, which lies just out of site beyond those trees, is this large field at the top of Mustard Hill. In days of old when Warkworth was called Upper Percy and Norham was a much larger town known as Lower Percy, a road used to cut across this field, but now that is long gone. Only those who consult old maps can tell of its existence. Most locals don’t even know. It followed roughly north south across the low contour here, from the old farmhouse just out of site on the far right.
July 2024
I pass by this small pond all the time on Highway 29, but on this day, I noticed the water-lilies starting to flower and couldn’t resist pulling over to have a look. These stops can also become field notes reminding me to return for additional photography.
Returning to the site of this post on overexposure, I captured a more normal exposure showing the everyday beauty of this stretch of road through the Northumberland Forest.
Above, I am looking south over a soy field along the dump road as we locals call it. The landfill is now closed, having fulfilled a relatively short lifespan being the dumping ground for the whole county for several years. I continue to think landfills are a big mistake. I would like to see waste to energy properly introduced to the area, but every time someone even mentions the idea of burning garbage, visions of old dumps set ablaze seem to kill these initiatives even before they can enter the planning stage. Okay, so dig another hole in the ground and cross your fingers then. What can go wrong?
A particularly beautiful wheat field that captured my attention this year on the road into Campbellford. It is so fascinating to see these field crops arise, ripen and be harvested. Lots of room to pull over here with good views in both directions so as not to become a road hazard. And what a beautiful summer day it was!
Crossing the road, and kneeling on the grass verge I was able to isolate the primary elements of wheat and sky.
I took the back road from Morganston to Castleton to get this shot of power lines crossing the rural landscape of Northumberland’s undulating hills. Photography always presents opportunities to take the long way home.
A nice stretch of rain free weather is the perfect time for cutting hay. This is the same field I photographed on May 19th. And yes, I waved to the farmer. We country folk are a wavy lot. Always acknowledging the presence of other human beings in the vastness of the rural landscape.
Seems the wheat I photographed July 4 is now ready too. The operator of this harvester had stopped when I passed by, giving me the opportunity to photograph the strip he missed by the road along with his big rig. When I returned, it was all gone, even the small strip by the road.
The view across the road of the harvested wheat field previously photographed on July 4th.
A mansion on the hill, actually a recent addition created from four or more modular prefab components, backs into a small forest hiding the Campbellford Seymour Landfill just behind it. Turkey vultures can often be seen flying high overhead here.
Another view on the same stretch of road, showing a long line of hay bales wrapped and ready to sustain livestock through the coming winter months.
It is easy to overlook the obvious sometimes. Having lived here for 38 years now, there are some things I tend to take for granted. This is the Trent Canal as it passes through Campbellford. The main river passes the other side of this small housing development which is effect an island within the town. In the foreground, a path installed and maintained by the Campbellford Rotary Club. The path skirts both sides of the canal making a round trip between our two bridges a healthy walk for both people and their pets.
The last time I stopped and photographed this scene was on March 20th. The corn is now rising high as the season progresses. Corn is like a yardstick to measure the summer by. The taller it gets, the more summer has passed by.
Looking east from the same spot, much the same as I did back in March.
August 2024
I have now been using my little folding phone camera for a full year. I have come to enjoy capturing the rural landscapes of my home county as we pass through the seasons. Of course, these are not the only pictures I’ve made with my phone, but these ones seem to naturally fall into an activity which comes as naturally to me as thinking, “Wow! I have to pull over and grab a photo of that.”
The seasons are now changing again. We are nearing the end of summer. The fields are turning golden brown. Harvest time is upon us.
Through good weather and bad, cold and heat. Sun, rain, wind, fog, and snow. The tapestry of my surroundings sustains me in a way I sometimes barely notice, and yet looking back at a year of pulling over, it’s easy for me to see my attractions and why I love going up the county.
P.S. - Thank You so much for reading this all the way to the end. I will continue to shooot raodside attractions and may eventually crate another post of the best of them.
I’ll leave you with a little Canned Heat, a song that was influential in getting me here.
John these are incredible!
Well put together collection of photos John! Really enjoyed seeing the changes in the countryside through the seasons!